Wire-rod-cleaning machine.



No. 754,209.. PATENTED MAR. 8, I904.

' msmmeuson. WIRE ROD CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL. HEETS-BHEETL D FNVENT OR Y 57570500: j/K

WIIINESSES:

PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

J. S. FERGUSON.

WIRE ROD CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.9, 1903;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

II A V///////////'/////// A f/VVENTOR Jay F ywsorg W1 TNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented March 8, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

WlRE-ROD-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,209, dated March 8,1904.

. Application filed October 9, 1903, Serial No. 176,384. .No model.)

T0 at! whom zit puny concern:

Be it known that I, JAY S. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at South Sharon, in the county of Mercer and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire RodCleaning Machines, of .which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of cleaning me al rods prior todrawing the same into wire,

and has special reference to an improved ma' chine designed toaccomplish this work entirely by mechanical instrumentalities.

Itis well known that wire-rods are generally covered with scales orcrust, which must be entirely removed before drawing into wire, and themethod generally practiced for taking off the scales and cleaning therods prior to the drawing operation is to pickle or soak the same inacids, which method, however, is open to many objections. It istherefore the purpose of the present invention to entirely obviate thehandling of wire-rods in this manner and to provide simple, practical,and effective means for thoroughly loosening up and removing the scales,besides placing the rod in the best possible condition for the wiredrawing operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in the novel means forsimultaneously varying the stress or tension of both the vertical andhorizontal sets of straining-rolls and the means for removing the scalesand cleaning the rod are necessarily susceptible to structuralmodification without departing from the scope of the invention, and apreferable construction of the same is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire-rodcleaningmachine constructed in accordance with they present invention. Fig. 2 isa top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the mounting of the scraping-blades ofone of the cleaning devices which. is in the form of a rotary scraper.Fig. 4 is an end view of the scraper shown in Fig. 3, exposing moreplainly the relative positions of the separate pairs of scraping-blades.Fig.5 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2,exposing the preferred construction of the cleaning device, which is inthe form of a rotary brush. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on theline 6 6 of Fig. 2, showing the cross-sectional form of the machine-bed.Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2,exposing the slidable mounting of the adjustable verticalstraining-roll. Fig.

,8 is a detail perspective of the verticallyswinging adjustablefeeding-guide for introducing the wire-rod to the machine.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

The working parts of the machine may be supported in any suitable mannerin connection with an appropriate foundation or base; but in thedrawings is shown a practical construction wherein the variousinstrumentalities may be maintained in proper working relation. Asshown, this construction includes an elongated base 1 of the properlength to support all the parts, and of a channeled form, the same beingof a U shape in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In the form of channeled base shown it is necessary to provide means forsustaining the different parts of the machine, and this may beaccomplished by suitably securing upon the upper edges of the side wallsof the base a series of transversely-arranged supportingplatforms 2,which platforms are designed to constitute individual supports for thedifferent working parts of the machine, as plainly shown in Figs. 1and'2 of the drawings. This structural detail can, however, be variedwithout affecting the invention.

The principle involved in this machine is that of exerting a lateralstress or tension upon the rod to provide for breaking and loosening upthe scale thereon and subsequently removing the latter through themedium of suitable cleaning devices. In this connection the machine isalso intended to providemeans for exerting this stress or tension uponwhat maybe termed the upper and lower faces and also upon the oppositesides of the rod, whereby the entire periphery thereof will be strained,stretched, or pressed, so as to break or loosen up any scale thereon.This action is accomplished by the employment of the separate sets ofvertically and horizontally arranged of said rolls is journaled upon avertical axis mounted upon an individual supporting-platform 2. Theseveral vertical rolls 3, 4, and 5 are preferably provided with thehorizontal peripheral guiding-grooves 6 for the rod and the first rollof the series(designated by the numeral 3) is also additionally providedwith a pulley member 7, which drives the belt 8, passing over a pulleyon the transmitting-shaft 9 for the purpose hereinafter explained. Theintermediate vertical roll 4 of the vertical set is preferablydesignedtobe adjustably mounted and to have a movement toward and from thevertical planes of the vertical rolls 3 and 5. While this mounting andadjustment may be accomplished in various ways, a simple arrangementconsists in mounting the axis or journal for the roll 4 upon theslidable rollcarrier 10. This roll-carrier is illustrated as being inthe form of a dovetailed slide movable in a correspondingly-shapedslideway 11, provided in the upper face of the transversesupporting-platform 2for the adjustable vertical roll 4. The adjustmentof the roll-carrier 10 in a direction toward and from the plane of therolls 3 and 5 is conveniently effected through the medium of anadjustingrod 12, having a pivotal connection at one end,

as at 13, with the bell-crank lever 14, and likewise connected at itsother end, 15, with a regulating-lever 16. The bell-crank lever 14 ispivotally mounted upon the base-support for the roll 4 and isoperatively connected, as at 16", with the slide-carrier 10, while theregulating-lever 16 is pivotally mounted upon the front end of themachine-base and carries a latch 17, cooperating with a fixedlocking-segment 18, suitably secured to the machine-base.

The adjusting device described is also associated with a tubularadjustable feeding-guide 19. This feeding-guide essentiaily consists ofan elongated guiding tube or trough arranged between the side walls ofthe base 1 at the feeding end thereof, and at its outer end the saidtubular guide is pivotally mounted within or on the base through themedium of a suitable pivotal support 20,'leaving its inner end free toswing in a vertical plane. At its free swinging end the guide isprovided with a pair of oppositely arranged bearing collars 21,whichreceive the journal ends 22 of the horizontal straining or tensionroll 23, preferably provided midway between its ends with an annularrod-guide groove 24, the transverse center of said roll lying in theplane of the guiding bore or opening 25, extended through the body ofthe guide or tube 19. The said straining or tension roll 23 constitutesthe lower roll member of the horizontal set of straining-rolls whichcomprises the said roll 23, and the fixed upper horizontal straining ortension roll 26, whose journal extremities 27 are mounted in suitablebearings 28, carried by the standards 29, arising from one of theindividual platforms 2 and arranged, re spectively, at opposite sides ofthe roll 26, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The said upperhorizontal straining-roll 26 is also provided with a central annularrod-guide groove 30 and is set somewhat in advance of the lower roll 23,whereby the latter is free to move up and down with the free end of thefeeding guide or tube 19. This up and down adjustment of thefeeding-guide with the initial straining or tension roll 23, carriedthereby, is eflected by an adjusting device 31, preferably in the formof a cam, operating beneath and against the-guide 19 and carried uponthe pivot-shaft 32 of the swinging regulating-lever 16.

Beyond the vertical set of straining-rolls 3, 4, and 5 there is arrangeda pair of spaced axially alined cleaning devices 33 and 34, whichsubject the rod to a successive treatment, insuring the completeremoving of the loosened scale and a thorough cleaning of the rod toplace it in the best condition for the wiredrawing operation. Thesecleaning devices are both preferably of the rotary type, and they arearranged one in advance of the other in order to secure the successivetreatment referred to. In the preferable construction the cleaningdevice 33, contiguous to the last roll of the vertical set, is in theform of a revolv ing scraper, having a scraping action upon the rod,while the last cleaning device 34 at the delivery end of the machine isin the form of a rotary brush, which effects a final brushing orcleaning. In this connection it is to be noted that while the inventioncontemplates means for positively driving the cleaningbrush 34 thecleaner or scraper 33 is not positively driven, but is intended to beidly, though rotatably, mounted' in the bearings therefor. By reason ofthis idle rotatable mounting of the scraper 33 the same will readilyaccommodate itself to twisting or turning of the rod, so that it willalways maintain an effective relation thereto.

Referring particularly to the first cleaning device 33, the sameessentially consists of a tubular rotatable body 35, arranged longitudinally of the machine-base and journaled in transversely-disposedbearing-standards 36,

IOU

allel vertical planes to extend the'scrapingsurface, while at the sametime permitting of the employment oftwo distinct pairs of blades.

The innermost scraper-blades (designated by the reference 37 )arediametrically opposite and are of dovetail form to slide in the radialdovetailed guide-grooves 38, formed in the face of the inner head 36 ofthe body 35. In connection witheach of the blades '37 of the inner pairthere is arranged at the outer end of such blade an adjusting-spring 39for normally pressing the same'in a direction toward the axis of therotatable body, and at its inner end each blade is provided with anotched scraping edge 40, which engages against and about the rod. Theouter scraperblades. (designated by the reference-number ,37).arearranged upon the outer face-of the inner head 36 and are held inposition through the medium of the dovetailed guiding and holding strips41, attached to such face of the head. Like the blades of the innerpair, those of the outer pair also have-arranged against them theadjusting-springs 41 for normally thrusting the blades in an inwarddirection, and at the inner ends the said blades of the outer pair arealso provided with a pair of notched edges 40", which, with the edges 40of the inner blades, form complements of the scraping-orifice throughwhich the rod is drawn.

naled in the transversely-dis posed spaced bearing-standards 44, mountedupon one of the individual platforms 2. The said tubular rotatable body43 has suitably secured within the bore or passage-way thereof thebristles or tubular brush 45, against which the rod is drawn as itpasses therethrough. At one end the tubular body 43, carrying thebrush-bristles 45, is provided with a pulley element 46, over whichpasses the driving-belt 47, driven from a pulley on thetransmitting-shaft 9.'

The cleaning device 34 also consists of a tubular rotatable body 43,jour-- cated beyond one end of the machine-base and driven by power inany suitable manner. In this connection it will of course be understoodthat the rod to be treated is takenfrom a suitably-mounted reel locatedcontiguous to the feeding'end 'of the machine.

The threading'of the rod through the machine is plainly indicated inFig. 2 of the drawings and consists in passing the same through thetubular feeding-guide 19 over the initial istraining or tension roll 23,under the horizontal straining-roll 26, again-stand at one side of thesuccessive vertical rolls ,3, '4, and 5, and then longitudinally throughthe separate cleaning devices 33 and 34. A transverse straining orstretching pressure is applied to the rod through the adjustmentof theadjustable rolls of the vertical and horizontal sets, and the samedegree of pressure'is applied through these rolls by reason ofthe commonadjustment therefor. It will be obvious that by adjusting theregulating-lever 16 for moving the roll 23 under straining pressureupward against the rod the same action would cause an inward adjustmentof the vertical roll 4 in a lateral direction against, the rod,,so

' that as it passes against the horizontal rolls and i then subsequentlyagainst the vertical rolls the same is subjected to such stress orstrain as to cause a breaking and loosening up of the scales, which whenthey come into contact with the inner andouter pairs of scraper-bladescarried by the rotary scraper will be stripped off of the rod. Smallclinging particles will be removed by the subsequent treatment of therotary brush 34, which also serves to give a final cleaning to the rod.The tubular feeding guide or tube at the feeding end of the machine willnecessarily have somewhat of a straightening eflect upon the rod as .itis received from the feeding-reel. 1

From the foregoing it, is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described machine will be readily apparentwithout further description, and it will be understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from-the spirit or sacrificing any of vthe advantages of the invention.

Having thus described. the invention, 'what is claimed, and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent, is o' 1. In a rod-cleaning machine,straining-rolls arranged at opposite sides of the line of movement forthe rod, and a separate tubular adjustable feeding-guide arranged at thefeeding end of the machine for the reception of the rod prior to itspassage to the rolls, said guide having a longitudinal guiding-boreaccommodating the rod therein, and being movable in a directiontransverse to the line of movement for the rod.

2. In a rod-cleaning machine, straining-rolls arranged at opposite sidesof the line of movement for the rod, and a tubular adjustablefeeding-guide accommodating the rod therein and carrying one of saidrolls, said guide being adjustable in a direction transverse to the lineof movement for the rod.

3. In a rod-cleaning machine, straining-rolls arranged at opposite sidesof the line of movement for the rod, a vertically-swinging tubularfeeding-guide carrying one of said rolls whose rod-engaging portion isin line with the bore through the guide, and an adjusting device forsaid guide to move the latter in a direction transverse to the line ofmovement for the rod.

4. In a rod-cleaning machine, vertical and horizontal sets ofstraining-rolls, each set having an adjustable roll, and means. forsynchronously setting both of the adjustable rolls,

- and also holding them fixed in their set positions.

5. In a rod-cleaning machine, vertical and horizontal sets ofstraining-rolls for the rod, each set having an adjustable roll, averticallyswinging pivotally-supported tubular feeding-guidecarryingbearings for the adjustable roll of the horizontal set, and aregulatingdevice having an adjusting-cam for the feedingguide, and anoperative connection with the adjustable roll of the vertical set.

6. In a rod-cleaning machine, the base having a transversely disposedslideway, a set of vertical straining-rolls supported upon the base andarranged in staggered relation, one of said rolls being adjustable andhaving a carrier slidably mounted in the slideway, a horizontal set ofstraining-rolls arranged at the feeding end of the base and disposed onein advance of the other, one of said rolls having a vertical adjustment,a swinging feedingguide carrying said adjustable horizontal roll, aregulating-lever having locking means and carrying an adjusting-camoperating against the feeding-guide, and an adjusting-rod having anoperating connection with the said roll-carrier for moving the sametoward and from the line of movement of the rod, and also operativelyconnected with the regulating-lever.

7. In a rod-cleaning machine, the base, vertical and horizontal sets ofstraining-rolls arranged in succession, each set having an adjustableroll for varying the strain against the rod, means for setting theadjustable rolls in fixed positions, a cleaning device, and means foroperating the cleaning device by communicating motion thereto from oneof the straining-rolls.

8. In a rod-cleaning machine, a series of rod-straining rolls, and apair of spaced axially-alined rotatable cleaning devices receiv- 6o ingthe rod from the rolls, one of said devices having positive motioncommunicated thereto and the other being an idler.

9. In a rod-cleaning machine, the base, aseries of rod-straining rollsarranged in staggored relation, and a pair of spaced axiallyalinedcleaning devices receiving the rod from the rolls, one of said cleaningdevices having a scraping element, and the other having a brush memberfor supplementing and completing the action of the scraper.

10. In a rod-cleaning machine, the base, a series of rod-strainingrolls, and a pair of spaced axially-alined cleaning devices rotatablymounted and receiving the rod from the rolls, one of said cleaningdevices having a scraper and the other having a brush, the latter beingarranged to supplement and complete the action of the scraper.

11. In a rod-cleaning machine, the base, a series of rod-strainingrolls, a pair of spaced axially-alined cleaning devices receiving therod from the rolls and respectively embodying differently-constructedcleaning elemen s, and a pair of horizontal guiding deliveryrollsarranged to receive the rodfrom the last cleaning device.

12. In a rod-cleaning machine, a series of rod-straining rolls, and acleaning device receiving the rod from the rolls, and consisting of atubular rotatable body provided with a head at one end, separate innerand outer overlapping pairs of scraper-blades carried by said head andslidably mounted in independent radially-disposed slideways, all of saidscraperblades having at their inner ends matching notched scraping ends,and individual adjusting-springs for the several blades to yieldinglypress the same inward.

13. In a rod-cleaning machine, the combi: nation of a series ofstraining-rolls, a rotary cleaning device receiving the rods from saidrolls, and a driving connection from one of said rolls to said cleaningdevice for rotating the latter.

14. In a rod-cleaning machine, a series of rod-straining rolls and arotary cleaning de vice receiving the rod from the rolls and consistingof a tubular rotatable body provided within its bore with an interiorbrush.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAY S. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

WM. W. ZIMMERMAN, MARY R. Arms.

